Felly.



No. 888,558. PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

T. H. WALBRIDGE. I

FELLY.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 29, 1906.

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E S S E N W W PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

T. H. WALBRIDGE.

PBLLY.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. Z9, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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PATENTED MAY 26, 190s.

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FELLY.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 29,1906.

T. H. WALBRIDGB.

THOMAS H. WALBRIDGE, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

FELLY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1908.

Application filed October 29, 1906. Serial No. 340,976.

To all whom tt may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. WAL- BRIDGE, of Toledo, Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement. in Fellies, whereof thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

My im rovcnient is particularly adapted for einbot iinent in vehiclewheels comprising spokes which maintain the fellies under tension inconnection with the hub, and it is an object of my invention to. providea felly formed of sheet metal so constructed and arranged asto`withstand the tensile strain| aforesaid inaddition to the strains ofimpact transmitted to the felly from the tire.

's hereinafter described, my invention includes a` felly comprisingr a.channel of pressed sheet metal, of U shaped cross section, with its freeedges turned outwardly for engagement with a tirewhich bears u )on thesurface traversed by the wheel, anti also having what I term an internaltire, being a band of metal extending within the felly at its internalcircumference and thus reinforcing it where connected with the spokes.

M v invention also includes means for connecting the meeting ends oftheaforesaid inner and outer tires in removable relation, and, means forexpanding such a felly in an outer tire.

' My invention comprises the various iiovel features of construction andarrangement' hereinafter more definitely s ecified.

In said drawings: Figure Iiis a transverse sectional view of Yafelly'conveniently embodying my invention, in connection with an outertire and s ioke. Figs. II,` III, and IV, are views similar toA Fig.l I,but showingf modified forms of my invention. Fig. V, is a side elevationof the reinforcing pla-te l shown in section in Fig.l IV. Figs. YI, VII,and VIII, are views similar to Fig. I, but l showing modified forms ofmy invention I wherein the fellies each comprise a plurality ,i ofdistinct metallic. channels. Fi IX, isa L sectional view, takenlongitudinally with respect to the felly, showing convenientarrangements of the respective meeting ends of the inner and outertires. Fig. X, is a sectional view of the felly showing means forexpanding the same in the tire. Fig. XI, is a view similar to Fig. X,but showing modified expanding means.

Referring to the form of my invention ,corresponding elements shown inFig. I the felly 1, is formed of a pressed sheet metal channel. of Ushaped cross section, having its free edges 2, and 3, turned outwardlyin engagement with the tire 5. Said`felly 1-, is provided with the innertire 6, which is coextensive with the internal circumference of thefelly, and is provided with apertures 7, to receive the outer ends ofspokes, only one of the latter being shown. As shown, the spokecomprises a tubular sheetI metal body 8, provided at its outer end withthe bushing 9, conveniently welded or brazed therein; said bushinghaving the opening 10, therethrough, the inner edge 1 l, of whichextends obliquely with respect tothe inner wall of the spoke body s0 asto facilitate the discharge of molten solder therefrom which otherwisemight be retained afterthe operation of securing'the bushing in thespoke. Said bushing 9, has the shoulder 13, bearing upon the innerperimeter of the fellv l, and the tenon 11, of less diameter whichextends through the opening 7, in the inner tire, and is providedexterior to the latter with -the screw thread 15, for the lock nuts 16,whereby the spoke is secured in the felly. I find it convenient toprovide the reinforcing washers 17, between the tire 6, and nutsvl,local to the ends of the spokes.

Referring to the form of my invent-ion shown in Fig. II: the felly 19,outer tire 20,

and inner tire 2l, are substantially like the of construction shown inFig. I, but, the spoke'23, is provided with the bushing 24, having theflan e 25', extending between the end of the spole i and the felly, soas to afford a shoulder of f larger diameter for contact with the felly.

.\foreover, the connection between thespoke and the felly in Fig. Il, ismade by means vof" the bolt 27, having the screw thread 28, en-

5 gaged with the bushing 24, and the head 29, overlapping the edges ofthe opening 30, in

the inner tire 21. Said bolt 27, may be coextensive with the spoke, andbe connected therewith at its inner end.

Referring to the form of mv invention v n l o shown in Fig. III, thefelly 31, is similar to the fellies l, and 19, above described exceptthat it is ot'l'set at 32, and the edges 33, thereof, which engage thetire 34, are folded inwardly to a greater extent, so that the felly iswider at its outer perimeter than at its` iiiner perimeter, and its`folded edges are of such extent as to conveniently receive rivets 35,whereby reinforcing plates 36, are connected therewith, said platesbeing res ectively local to the spokes. As shown in ig. III; t-he spokecomprises the tubular shell 37, provided at its outer end with thebushing 38, having the Hange'39, extending between the end of the spokeand the felly, thus resembling the bushing 24, shown in Fig. II. Saidfelly 31, is provided with the inner tire 41, and the spoke 37, issecured in rigid relation therewith by the screw 42, having the head 43,overlapping the edges of the opening 44, in which extends `the tenon 45,on said bushing. As shown, said head 43, extends between the inner tire41, and the reinforcing plate 36, and, the latter is rigidly connectedtherewith by the screw 47, having the head 48, overlapping the edges ofthev opening 49, in said late 36, through which said screw 47 exten s.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. IV; the felly 51, which isotherwise similar to the felly 31, above described, is adapted forconnection with a wider tire 52, being stiffened by offsets 53, whichare coextensive with the length of the felly and which are fitted to theinner tire 55. Said felly 51, has reinforcing plates 56, respectivelylocal to the spokes; each plate being provided with an o )ening 57, fora screw 58, the head 59 of whic overlaps the edges of said opening andretains the p ate 56, tire 55, and felly 51, in rigid relation with thespoke, comprising the tubular shell 61, having the bushing 62, which issimilar to the bushing 38, above described.

In the form of my invention shown in Fi VI; the felly comprises twoconcentricaly disposed channels 65, and 66, and is ada ted forengagement with the tire 67,. whic is wider than that shown in Fig. V.The inner tire 69, extends between said two channels 65, and 66, and thefelly is rigidly connected with the spoke 70, by the. screw 71, whichengages the spoke bushing 72.

In the form of my invention shown in Fi VII; the felly comprises threeconcentricaly disposed channels 75, 76, and 77, each engaged with thetire 78. The inner tire 79, extends between said channels 75, and 76,

and the channels 76, and 77, are maintained y in properly spacedrelation by the washer 80, which is in concentric relation with thescrew bolt 8l, which engages the bushing 82, in the spoke 83 ,V andsecures them in rigid relation.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. VIII; the felly comprisesthree concentrically disposed channels 85, 86, and 87, and the innertire 89, extends between the channels 85, and 86, of the full width ofthe former. The felly is connected with the spoke 91, by the bolt 92,which is in screw threaded engagement with the s oke bushing 93, and hasthe head 94, exten ing between the felly channels 86, and 87.

- adjusted length.

The screw threaded end 95, I

of said bolt extendinT outwardlv from its head 94, is engaged by theloci; nuts 96, which secure the channel 87, in rigid relation with the soke.

Althoug it is to be understood that the inner and outer tires abovedescribed may be made in endless form I. iind it convenient to form themin stri )s of metal having their meeting ends over apped as shown inFig. IX. In said figure, the felly comprising the `channel 100, is'provided with the inner tire 101, having meeting ends 102, and 103,which are rovided with eorrugations 104 and 105, w ich may beinterlocked as indicated in Fig. IX, to maintain said tire of any Saidends may be maintained in inseparable relation by the holt 107, and nut108; said bolt being secured in the bushing 109, at the inner end of thespoke 110. The outer tire 112, shown in Fig. IX, has its meeting ends113, and 114, respectively provided with corrugations 115, and 116, theend 114, of said tire 112, being oiset inwardlyr so as to afl'ord acontinuous circular tread, both ends 113, and 114, may be securedinrigid relation by the bolt 118, and nut 119.

Although it is to be understood that continuous circular fellies may bemade in accordance with the construction above described, I find itconvenient to provide means for expanding within an outer tire, anincomplete annular felly of the character described, and have shown suchmeans in Fig. X; wherein the felly comprising the channel 121, isprovided with the inner tire 122, and has its ends 123, turned outwardlyfor res ective engagement with the bolts 124. Sai bolts 124, are engagedwith nuts 125, supported and prevented from turning by the anchor plate126, which may be secured in rigid relation with the outer tire 128, byany convenient means, for instance, by rivets 129. It is to beunderstood that the felly 121 beingloosely fitted in the tire 128, maybe expanded by rotation of said bolts 124, so as to fit the lattertightly.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. XI; the felly .com rising thechannel '131 which is an ineomp ete annulus, is provided at its opposedends with nuts 132, which are rigidly secured therein, conveniently bywelding or brazing. The -bolt- 133, is respec-V tively provided withright and left hand threads at its opposite ends 134, and 135, so thatit may be rotated by the wrench hold 136, intermediate of its length toexpand said felly into ti ht engagement with the tire 137. When thegelly is tiius expanded accidental displacement thereof may be preventedby the wedge Ablock 138, which is interposed between the wrench hold136, and the tire 137, so as to prevent rotation of said bolt.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of constructionand arrangement lll() herein described, asit is obvious t-hat variouswhereb f the-latter may be expanded in a mmllcations may be made thereinwithout departing fromthe scope of the following claims.

l. A metallic felly provided with an internal t-ii'e forined'of a stripof metal having separableends; means detachably connecting said tireends and, means detachably connecting said tire in contact with theinner face. of said felly, substantially as set fort-h.

2. A metallicI felly provided with an internal tire formed of a strip ofmetal having separable ends; means detachably connecting said tire ends;comprising iiiterengaged corrugations in said ends; a bolt maintainingsaid corrugations in interlocked relation; and, means distinct fronisaidbolt detachably connecting said tire in contactl with the pmtr face ofsaid felly, substantially as set ort i. v

3. A metallic felly comprisinea pluralityof eoncent rically disposedchannels; and, means securing said channels in rigid relation,comlrising screw threaded members res iectively ocal tothe outer ends ofthe lspo es, substantially as set forth.

` 4'. A metallic felly comprising a U shaped channel having its freeedges turned outwardly, and having openings in its inner circumferencefor connection with spokes; reinforcing plates respectively local tosaid spoke o ienin gs; means connecting said plates with said fellyindependently of the spokes, and, means connecting said reinforcingplates with said spokes.

5.4 A metallic felly comprising a U shaped dhaiinel having its freeedges turned ontwardly and having openings in its innercirgumference forconnection `with spokes; and,

ieinforcing plates respectively local to said.

sioke openings; said plates being \of U siaped cross section and havingtheir free ends secured iii rigid relation with the free edges of saidchannels, substantially as set forth.

I 6. A metallic felly comprising a channel pf U shaped crosssection,said telly. being an ncoinplete' anniilus;.aiid, separate,independently rotatable, screw threaded means engaging the opposed endsof said felly,

tire, su stantially as set forth.

7.1A metallic felly cmprising a channel of U shaped cross section, saidfelly being an incomplete annulus; separate screw threaded 'inea-nsengaging the opposed ends of said felly, whereby the latter may beexpanded in a tire, comprising separate nuts; and i'neans arranged torespectively prevent the rotation of said nuts, substantially as setforth.

8. In a felly comprising a pluralityr of concentrically disposedmetallic channels; an

` inner tire extending between said channels,

substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with a felly comprising a plurality of concentricallydisposed metallic channels; of spoke engaging means in said felly,comprising a screw having a head extending between said channels,substantially as set forth. v

10. A fell comprising a metallic channel of U shape cross sectionhavingI its outer circumference adapted to engage 'a tire, incombination with washers -within the felly local to the regions wheresaid felly is connected with the s okes; and, means within said channel,-in ependent vof said felly, whereby said washers arel connect-ed withsaidispokes, substantially as set forth.

l1. A metallic felly comprising a U shaped channel having its free edgesturned outwardly and having openings in its inner circumference forconnection-with spokes; reinforcingplates respectively local to vsaidspoke openings; and, means connecting said p ates withsaid channel, indeendently of the spokes, substantiallv as setort-h.

l2. A metallic felly provided with an internal tire formed of a st-ripof metal having 4separableends ;Qawspoke fitted in said fell and,'in'eans carriedbyailspoke detachabf;r connecting saidtire-ends,substantially as set forth.

.In testimony whereof, I have hereunto s'gned my name at Toledo,Ohio,this seventeenth day of October, 1906.

THOMAS H. WALBRIDGE. Wit iiesses:

` A. C. VAN DRIESEN, A. VAN WoRMER.v

